Survey: Drug shortages resulted in patient deaths

A new survey released by a national anesthesiologist group shows the consequences of drug shortages could be fatal, according to a report from Good Morning America.

The American Society of Anesthesiologists released a survey that reported seven doctors reported that a low supply of drugs used before, during and after surgery resulted in the deaths of their patients, ABC News reported. The survey was conducted online and more than 3,000 of the 28,000 in the group responded, the report said. Although it is not considered a scientific report, president of the group Jerry Cohen told ABC that the survey should be a warning sign.

“We are at risk,” Cohen told ABC. “If I proceed, if I don’t have the drug I need — and know I don’t have the drug I need — and I have a bad outcome, I’m responsible.”

The survey showed that of the respondents, 97.6 percent reported a shortage of at least one drug and 96 percent said they were forced to use an alternate drug for procedures when the correct drug was not available. The alternative had negative consequences, the survey showed, including nausea, longer recovery times and the potential for patients to experience more difficulties coming out of anesthesia.

Local and general anesthesia drugs often run low, such as propofol, the survey shows. Propofol is known as the drug that led to the death of Michael Jackson, according to the report.

Anesthesiologists also reported problems getting thiopental, also known as sodium penthothal, an ultra-short acting barbiturate that’s used less frequently today in hospitals, but remains in demand for the lethal cocktail many states use in executions. The shortage has left some prisoners longer on death row. Last year in Texas, supplies ran low for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice in its supply of its lethal injection drug for death row.

The report said that Congress and policymakers are faced with a nationwide crisis, where hospitals scramble for antibiotics and anesthetics to meet medication shortages to treat cancer and other illnesses.